HELENA’S House Co-founder Fiona McIlwain said her daughter’s dream was close to realisation – to build a house for people living with disabilities.
Helèna McIlwain tragically died from a pulmonary embolism on October 13, 2019.
The last thing left before construction began on the house, Helèna’s House, was to find a block of land.
As part of the continued awareness raising and fundraising for the house, Mrs McIlwain was happy to announce another Starry Night event.
The last Starry Night in 2021 had been “a great success”.
This year’s Starry Night would include a panel Q&A with Dr Dinesh Palipana and Olympic swimmer Cate Campbell, who is the eldest of 5 children with a younger brother Hamish with a severe disability.
The night would also see the launch of Helèna’s Song, written by Fiona’s brother Richard.
Reflecting on how the community had rallied behind Helèna’s House, Mrs McIlwain said there are so many good people in the world.
“We’re putting our heart and soul into it and we’re very passionate about it because that’s where Helèna was,” she said.
“She was so passionate about it and it was the last thing she spoke to us about before she died – was we need to do more for this community, we need to help.”
Mrs McIlwain said Helèna had been changing her career path from studying medicine to occupational therapy in order to do more hands-on, day-to-day work supporting people living with disabilities.
“As parents we were just so proud she had that foresight and maturity at such a young age,” she said.
“She was only 19 when she died.
“We do get comfort from the support that people give to Helena’s House and to BestLife, because that’s what she believed in.
“And also the positivity that it gives to me personally as a mum, people wanting to come on board and give their time voluntarily – we’re so grateful.”
The Starry Night event will be held on August 19.
Find out more at: trybooking.com/events/landing/1063360
